Faculty Development - How to Give Feedback

What is feedback?Feedback is an essential part of education and training programmes. It helps learners to maximise theirpotential at different stages of training, raise their awareness of strengths and areas for improvement, andidentify actions to be taken to improve performance.

Feedback can be seen as informal (for example in day-to-day encounters between teachers and students ortrainees, between peers or between colleagues) or formal (for example as part of written or clinicalassessment). However, ‘there is no sharp dividing line between assessment and teaching in the area of givingfeedback on learning’ (Ramsden, 1992, p. 193). Feedback is part of the overall dialogue or interactionbetween teacher and learner, not a one-way communication.

If we don't give feedback what is the learner gaining, or indeed, assuming?

They may think that everything is OK and that there are no areas for improvement. Learners value feedback,especially when it is given by someone credible who they respect as a role model or for their knowledge,attitudes or clinical competence. Failing to give feedback sends a non-verbal communication in itself and canlead to mixed messages and false assessment by the learner of their own abilities, as well as a lack of trust inthe teacher or clinician.

Most clinicians already give feedback to students or trainees. This module offers some suggestions on howyou can improve the feedback you give so that you are better able to help motivate and develop learners’knowledge, skills and behaviours.

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Why is feedback so important in healthcareeducation and training?Feedback is important to the ongoing development of learners in healthcare settings. Many clinical situationsinvolve the integration of knowledge, skills and behaviours in complex and often stressful environments withtime and service pressures on both teacher and learner. Feedback is central to developing learners' competenceand confidence at all stages of their medical careers.

Over the past few years, new assessment procedures have been introduced for junior doctors. Clinical practiceand professional behaviours and attitudes are regularly and routinely assessed using a raft of workplace-basedassessments. Such tools may include multi-source feedback, observations of clinical performance andcase-based discussions. Feedback is a critical element of all these assessments and will involve healthprofessionals across the board in their delivery, on multiple occasions and throughout the training programme.

Jill Gordon (writing in 2003 about the importance and influence of one-to-one teaching situations in clinicalmedicine) reinforces this, noting that feedback is vital and that the most effective and helpful feedback isbased on observable behaviours:

Learners value feedback highly, and valid feedback is based on observation. Deal with observable behavioursand be practical, timely, and concrete. The one to one relationship enables you to give feedback withsensitivity and in private. Begin by asking the learner to tell you what he or she feels confident of having donewell and what he or she would like to improve. Follow up with your own observations of what was done well(be specific), and then outline one or two points that could help the student to improve. (p. 544)

She goes on to note that one of the main purposes of feedback is to encourage reflection:

Just as many learning opportunities are wasted if they are not accompanied by feedback from an observer, sotoo are they wasted if the learner cannot reflect honestly on his or her performance. One to one teaching isideally suited to encouraging reflective practice, because you can model the way a reflective practitionerbehaves. Two key skills are (a) ‘unpacking’ your clinical reasoning and decision making processes and (b)describing and discussing the ethical values and beliefs that guide you in patient care. (p. 544)

Grounding feedback within an overall approach that emphasises ongoing reflective practice helps learners todevelop the capacity to critically evaluate their own and others’ performance, to self-monitor and movetowards professional autonomy.

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Who gives feedback?Teachers• Clinicians from a range of healthcare professions• Patients• Peers and colleagues• The learner themselves• Others?•

Thinking point

Are there any issues for learners in receiving feedback from the groups/individuals above?•

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Principles of giving effective feedbackWhether you are giving formal or informal feedback, there are a number of basic principles to keep in mind.

Give feedback only when asked to do so or when your offer is accepted.1. Give feedback as soon after the event as possible.2. Focus on the positive.3. Feedback needs to be given privately wherever possible, especially more negative feedback.4. Feedback needs to be part of the overall communication process and ‘developmental dialogue’. Useskills such as rapport or mirroring, developing respect and trust with the learner.

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Stay in the ‘here and now’, don’t bring up old concerns or previous mistakes, unless this is tohighlight a pattern of behaviours.

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Focus on behaviours that can be changed, not personality traits.7. Talk about and describe specific behaviours, giving examples where possible and do not evaluate orassume motives.

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Use ‘I’ and give your experience of the behaviour (‘When you said…, I thought that you were…’).9. When giving negative feedback, suggest alternative behaviours.10. Feedback is for the recipient, not the giver – be sensitive to the impact of your message.11. Consider the content of the message, the process of giving feedback and the congruence between yourverbal and non-verbal messages.

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Encourage reflection. This will involve posing open questions such as:

(a) Did it go as planned? If not why not?

(b) If you were doing it again what would you do the same next time and what would you dodifferently? Why?

(c) How did you feel during the session? How would you feel about doing it again?

(d) How do you think the patient felt? What makes you think that?

(e) What did you learn from this session?

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Be clear about what you are giving feedback on and link this to the learner’s overall professionaldevelopment and/or intended programme outcomes.

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Do not overload – identify two or three key messages that you summarise at the end.15.

Emphasising that responding to the senders’ communication is vital and that feedback is fundamental toeffective communication, Parsloe (1995) suggests that: ‘Communication is a two-way process that leads toappropriate action… in the context of developing competence, it is not an exaggeration to describe feedbackas “the fuel that drives improved performance”.’

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Barriers to giving effective feedbackHesketh and Laidlaw (2002) identify a number of barriers to giving effective feedback in the context ofmedical education:

a fear of upsetting the trainee or damaging the trainee–doctor relationship• a fear of doing more harm than good• the trainee being resistant or defensive when receiving criticism. Poor handling of a reaction tonegative feedback can result in feedback being disregarded thereafter

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feedback being too generalised and not related to specific facts or observations• feedback not giving guidance on how to rectify behaviour• inconsistent feedback from multiple sources• a lack of respect for the source of feedback.•

Parsloe (1995) also identifies that feedback must be given sensitively and appropriately. He notes that it iseasy for those giving feedback ‘to take the relationship aspect of their roles for granted… particularly if the(teacher) has been working with their learner for some time’ (p. 149). Learners are often in a dependent andsubordinate role to teachers or trainers, and it is easy to dismiss issues of organisational power and authoritythat often underpin work relationships. This is particularly important if the organisational culture isbureaucratic, hierarchical or results oriented, and in healthcare, where there are often tensions aroundprofessional role boundaries and status. Where this influences feedback is in being clear about theexpectations and aiming to develop a supportive, relaxed and informal environment. It is also about havingrespect for the person giving feedback.

Other aspects between the person giving feedback and the recipient include differences in sex, age oreducational and cultural background. These are not necessarily obstacles, but they may make feedbacksessions strained and demotivating.

Thinking point

Think about when you are given feedback – what do you think acts as a barrier? •

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Models of giving feedbackA common model for giving feedback in clinical education settings that you may have come across wasdeveloped by Pendleton (1984).

Pendleton’s rules

1. Check the learner wants and is ready for feedback.

2. Let the learner give comments/background to the material that is being assessed.

3. The learner states what was done well.

4. The observer(s) state what was done well.

5. The learner states what could be improved.

6. The observer(s) state how it could be improved.

7. An action plan for improvement is made.

Although this model provides a useful framework, there have been some criticisms of its rigid and formulaicnature and a number of different models have been developed for giving feedback in a structured and positiveway. These include reflecting observations in a chronological fashion, replaying the events that occurredduring the session back to the learner. This can be helpful for short feedback sessions, but you can becomebogged down in detail during long sessions. Another model is the ‘feedback sandwich’, which starts and endswith positive feedback.

When giving feedback to individuals or groups, an interactive approach is deemed to be most helpful. Thishelps to develop a dialogue between the learner and the person giving feedback and builds on the learners’own self-assessment, it is collaborative and helps learners take responsibility for their own learning.

A structured approach ensures that both trainees and trainers know what is expected of them during thefeedback sessions. Walsh (2005) and Vassilas and Ho (2000) describe a model adapted from Kurtz et al.(1998), summarising the key points for problem-based analysis in giving feedback to groups as follows.

Start with the trainee’s agenda.• Look at the outcomes that the interview is trying to achieve.• Encourage self-assessment and self-problem solving first.• Involve the whole group in problem solving. • Use descriptive feedback.• Feedback should be balanced (what worked and what could be done differently).• Suggest alternatives.• Rehearse suggestions through role-play.• Be supportive.• The interview is a valuable tool for the whole group.• Introduce concepts, principles and research evidence as opportunities arise.• At the end, structure and summarise what has been learnt.•

Vassilas and Ho (2000) identify that medical educationalists claim that using this method for groups andindividuals is more likely to motivate adults, in particular, to learn. Initially, grasping this different way of

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working can be more difficult for trainers than using the traditional didactic approach, but research into usingthis method supports its effectiveness in clinical settings. The widely used Calgary-Cambridge approach tocommunication skills teaching (Silverman et al., 1996) is referred to by Walsh (2005) in his summary of‘agenda-led, outcomes-based analysis’: ‘Teachers start with the learners’ agenda and ask them what problemsthey experienced and what help they would like. Then you look at the outcomes that they are trying toachieve. Next you encourage them to solve the problems and then you get the trainer and eventually the wholegroup involved. Feedback should be descriptive rather than judgmental and should also be balanced andobjective.’

See also the Teachers’ toolbox for a summary of Giving and receiving feedback.

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Linking feedback to the learning processIt is very important to ensure that the feedback given to the learner is aligned with the overall learningoutcomes of the programme, teaching session or clinical activity in which the learner is engaged. Givingfeedback can be seen as part of experiential learning. Kolb (1984) proposed that learning happens in a circularfashion, that learning is experiential (learning by doing), and that ideas are formed and modified throughexperiences. These ideas underpin the idea of the ‘reflective practitioner’ and the shift from ‘novice to expert’which occurs as part of professional development.

The learning cycle requires four kinds of abilities or learning contexts:

concrete experience – learners are enabled and encouraged to become involved in new experiences• reflective observation – gives learners time to reflect on their learning• abstract conceptualisation – learners must be able to form and process ideas and integrate them intological theories

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active experimentation – learners need to be able to use theories to solve problems and test theories innew situations.

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This cycle is similar to the ‘plan – do – reflect – act’ cycle which is often used in appraisals. Hill (2007)identifies that ‘feedback plays an important role in helping learners move round the cycle. For example,feedback supports the process of reflection and the consideration of new or more in-depth theory. Through aprocess of negotiation, feedback can also help the learner plan productively for the next learning experience.’

If we consider that one of the tasks of those giving feedback is to help the learner achieve their learning goals,then Hill (2007) suggests that we need to start with an understanding of:

(a) where the learner is in terms of their learning, the level they have reached, past experience, andunderstanding of learning needs and goals

(b) the learning goals in terms of knowledge, technical skills and attitudes. You may be observing more thanone of these learning domains at the same time.

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During the observation, our task is to identify where and how far the learner has travelled towards the learninggoals, where they may have gone off track and what further learning or practice may be required.

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Giving formal feedbackObservations over a period of time or for specific purposes (e.g. appraisal, end of attachment interviews) aretypical situations when formal feedback occurs in the clinical setting. Teachers may also be required toparticipate in formal clinical and non-clinical assessments which ideally should incorporate feedback to thelearner.

If ongoing feedback has been carried out regularly, then the formal feedback sessions should not contain anysurprises for the learners. Feedback can be given on a one-to-one basis or in small groups. The structure forgiving feedback will be agreed between you and the learner(s), and may follow one of the models describedabove. It is also important that both you and the people to whom you are giving feedback are fully preparedfor the session.

Prior to a formal feedback session you should:

ensure the learner is aware they are to receive feedback (so clearly define the purpose of the feedbacksession prior to or at the outset of the session)

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collect any information you need from other people• summarise the feedback and ensure you know the positive aspects and areas for improvement arelisted (with supporting evidence)

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make sure you know how the feedback relates to the learning programme and defined outcomes.•

Setting the scene:

create an appropriate environment• clarify your ground rules with the students – what part of the history or examination the student is toconcentrate on, when you will interrupt, what other students are to do, how the student can seek helpduring the consultation, etc.

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agree a teaching focus with the student• gain the patient’s consent and co-operation• make notes of specific points.•

During the formal feedback session, you should:

redefine the purpose and duration of the feedback session• clarify the structure of the session• encourage the learner to self-assess their performance prior to giving feedback• aim to encourage a dialogue and rapport with the trainee• reinforce good practice with specific examples• identify, analyse and explore potential solutions for poor performance or deficits in practice.•

After the session, you should:

complete any outstanding documentation and ensure the learner has copies• carry out any agreed follow-up activities or actions• make sure that opportunities for remedial work or additional learning are arranged• set a date for the next feedback session, if required.•

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Giving informal feedback: maximisingopportunitiesThere are many opportunities for giving informal feedback to learners on a day-to-day basis. Spencer’s article‘Learning and teaching in the clinical environment’ (2003) describes a range of aspects and activitiesconcerned with helping clinical teachers to optimise teaching and learning opportunities that arise in dailypractice, such as planning, using appropriate questioning techniques and teaching in different clinicalcontexts. Such techniques often involve giving feedback to learners on their performance or understanding,but the feedback is built into everyday practice. Those giving feedback can help the learner to move throughthe stages in the ‘competency model’ of supervision (Proctor, 2001; Hill, 2007) as shown in the table below.

Unconsciousincompetence

Conciousincompetence

Consciouscompetence

Unconsciouscompetence

Learner Low level ofcompetence.Unaware offailings

Low level ofcompetence.Aware offailings butnot having fullskills tocorrect them

Demonstratescompetencebut skills notfullyinternalised or integrated.Has to thinkaboutactivities

Carries outtasks withconsciousthought. Skillsinternalisedand routine.Little or noconsciousawareness ofdetailedprocessesinvolved inactivities

Feedback giver

Helps learnerto recogniseweaknesses,identify areasfordevelopmentand becomeconscious ofincompetence

Helps learnerto develop andrefine skills,reinforcesgood practiceandcompetence,demonstratesskills

Helps learnerto developand refineskills,reinforcesgood practiceandcompetencethroughpositiveregularfeedback

Raisesawareness ofdetail andunpacksprocesses formoreadvancedlearning, notesany areas ofweakness/badhabit

Hesketh and Laidlaw (2003) note that providing informal on-the-job feedback can take only a few minutes ofthe clinician’s time. To be the most effective, feedback should take place at the time of the activity or as soonas possible after so that the learner (and teacher) can remember the events accurately. The feedback should bepositive and specific, focusing on the trainee’s strengths and helping to reinforce desirable behaviour: ‘Youmaintained eye contact with Mrs X during the consultation, I feel this helped to reassure her…’.

Negative feedback should also be specific and non-judgemental, possibly offering a suggestion: ‘Have youthought of approaching the patient in such a way…’. Focus on some of the positive aspects before the areas

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for improvement: ‘You picked up most of the key points in the history, including X and Y, but you did not askabout Z…’. Avoid giving negative feedback in front of other people, especially patients.

Keep the dialogue moving with open-ended questions: ‘How do you think that went?’, which can be followedup with more probing questions. Hesketh and Laidlaw (2003) also suggest that learners should be encouragedto ‘seek feedback themselves from others… feedback actually works best when it is sought’.

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Receiving feedbackSometimes feedback is not received positively by learners, and fear of this can inhibit teachers giving regularface-to-face feedback. People’s responses to criticism, however constructively it is framed, can vary. Learnersoften discount their ability to take responsibility for their learning, and their responses may present in negativeways, including anger, denial, blaming or rationalisation (King, 1999). When giving feedback, it is helpful tomaintain an empathic yet consistent approach with a view to helping the learner take responsibility fordevelopment and improvement.

The focus in this module has mainly been about giving effective feedback to learners, but it is also helpful tothink in a structured way about how feedback might be received. You can help to prepare learners (andyourself) for receiving feedback by providing opportunities for them to practise the guidelines listed below.

The aim of developing an open dialogue between the person giving feedback and the recipient is so that bothparties are relaxed and able to focus on actively listening, engaging with the learning points and messages,and developing these into action points for future development.

Guidelines for receiving constructive feedback

Listen to it (rather than prepare your response/defence).1. Ask for it to be repeated if you did not hear it clearly.2. Assume it is constructive until proven otherwise; then consider and use those elements thatare constructive.

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Pause and think before responding.4. Ask for clarification and examples if statements are unclear or unsupported.5. Accept it positively (for consideration) rather than dismissively (for self-protection).6. Ask for suggestions of ways you might modify or change your behaviour.7. Respect and thank the person giving feedback.8.

Congratulations

You have now reached the end of the module. Provided you have entered something into your log you cannow print your certificate. To generate your certificate please go to ‘my area’ and click on ‘complete’ in thecourse status column. Please note, you will not be able to print your certificate unless you have enteredsomething in your ‘reflections area’.

Please now take a moment to evaluate the course and enter your comments below.

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Further InformationThis module was written by Judy Mckimm, Visiting Professor of Healthcare Education and Leadership,Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Postgraduate Medical School. The module relates to areas 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 ofthe Professional Development Framework for Supervisors in the London Deanery.

Teachers toolkit

Download guidelines for giving and receiving feedback in pdf format.

References

Department of Health. Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) website www.mmc.nhs.uk (accessed 24 July2007).

Gordon J (2003) BMJ ABC of Learning and Teaching in Medicine: one to one teaching and feedback. BritishMedical Journal. 326: 5435 (accessed 23 July 2007).

Hill F (2007) Feedback to enhance student learning: Facilitating interactive feedback on clinical skills.International Journal of Clinical Skills. 1: 214.

Hesketh EA and Laidlaw JM (2002) Developing the teaching instinct: feedback. Medical Teacher. 24: 2458.

King J (1999) Giving feedback. British Medical Journal. 318: 2.

Kolb DA (1984) Experiential Learning: experience as the source of learning and development. Prentice Hall,Englewood-Cliffs, NJ.

Kurtz S, Silverman J and Draper J (1998) Teaching and Learning Communication Skills in Medicine.Radcliffe Medical Press, Oxford.

Pendleton D, Scofield T, Tate P and Havelock P (1984) The Consultation: an approach to learning andteaching. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Proctor B (2001) Training for supervision attitude, skills and intention. In: Cutcliffe J, Butterworth T andProctor B (eds) Fundamental Themes in Clinical Supervision. Routledge, London.

Ramsden P (1992) Learning to Teach in Higher Education. Routledge, London.

Silverman JD, Kurtz SM and Draper J (1996) The Calgary-Cambridge approach to communication skillsteaching. Agenda-led, outcome-based analysis of the consultation. Journal of Education in General Practice.7: 28899.

Spencer J (2003) BMJ ABC of Learning and Teaching in Medicine: learning and teaching in the clinicalenvironment. British Medical Journal. 326; 5914 (accessed 23 July 2007).

Vassilas C and Ho L (2000) Video for teaching purposes. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment. 6: 30411. TheRoyal College of Psychiatrists (accessed 23 July 2007)

Walsh K (2005) The rules. British Medical Journal. 331: 574 (accessed 22 July 2007).

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Further reading

ASME Understanding Medical Education Guides:

Boursicot KAM, Roberts,TE and Burdick WP (2007) Structured Assessments of ClinicalCompetence. Association for the Study of Medical Education, Edinburgh.

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Launer J (2006) Supervision, Mentoring and Coaching: one-to-one learning encounters in medicaleducation. Association for the Study of Medical Education, Edinburgh.

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Norcini JJ (2007) Workplace-based Assessment in Clinical Training. Association for the Study ofMedical Education, Edinburgh.

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Pitts J (2007) Portfolios, Personal Development and Reflective Practice. Association for the Study ofMedical Education, Edinburgh.

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Schuwirth LWT and van der Vleuten CPM (2006) How to Design a Useful Test: the principles ofassessment. Association for the Study of Medical Education, Edinburgh.

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Wood D (2006) Formative Assessment. Association for the Study of Medical Education, Edinburgh.•

BMJ ABC of Learning and Teaching in Medicine: learning and teaching in the clinical environment, atwww.bmj.com

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Course GlossaryAim

An aim in educational terms, is a brief statement of intent, indicating the scope and range of intendedlearning outcomes that the educational episode has been structured to address.

AppraisalA positive and ongoing process to provide feedback on performance, review progress and plan action.The appraisal interview or discussion is a key part of the process where strengths and areas forimprovement are summarized and agreed and a formal development plan is made.

AssessmentAssessment is the term used to indicate an appraisal of students' performance. Typical formalassessments in medicine include written examinations, Multiple choice questionnaires (MCQ),observations of clinical or communication skills, Objective Structured Clinical Examinations(OSCEs) and Multi-Source Feedback (MSF). Assessments may be summative (where the marksgained contribute to a formal grade or award) or formative (where the focus is on providing feedbackfor ongoing development).

ClassClass refers to hierarchical differences between individuals or groups in societies or cultures . Factorsthat determine class may vary widely from one society to another. However, economic disadvantageand barriers to access servces are major issues within class discrimination.

Learning OutcomesLearning outcomes are similar to learning objectives in that they specify the intended outcomes of theprogramme of study. These should be stated in clear and specific terms and should be developedalong with a specification of the learning experiences that will allow the outcomes to be achieved.

Learning outcomesLearning outcomes are similar to learning objectives in that they specify the intended outcomes of theprogramme of study. These should be stated in clear and specific terms and should be developedalong with a specification of the learning experiences that will allow the outcomes to be achieved.

SupervisionUsually a formal one-to-one relationship, focussed around professional conversations to help thesupervisee develop reflective professional practice, learning and skills with the aim of improvingpatient care.

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Self-Assessment ActivitiesSelect one or more of the activities below to focus your attention on developing your feedback skills andputting into practice some of the learning from the module.

1 Giving formal feedback

Select between one and three occasions when you are formally required to give feedback to a student ortrainee. Examples might be appraisal, feedback to a medical student at the end of a clinical placement, awritten or clinical assessment or a Foundation Programme assessment.

Using one of the checklists or feedback structures described in this module that is new to you, carry out thefeedback session(s).

List some of the advantages and difficulties you encountered.

2 Developing opportunities for informal feedback

Select some of the key points and approaches from this module that you feel are important in developingopportunities to give informal feedback to the students or trainees who work with you.

Make a positive commitment to introduce more feedback into your work with learners as routine and try outsome of the approaches you identified as appropriate to your situation. This may involve you giving morefeedback, encouraging the learners to seek feedback as routine from others and involving peers, other healthprofessionals or patients in giving informal feedback.

Observe the reactions of the learners (and others) to your modified approach.

List some of the advantages and difficulties you encountered.

3 Multi-source feedback

Find out what training opportunities have been (or could be) put in place for trainees and those givingfeedback in your trust.

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